Necktie pressing form



y 24, 19 H. T. WATTLES NECKTIE PRESSING FORM Filed April 27, 1948 INVEN TOR. HEZ EN TODD Irv/177255 A TTOP/VEYS Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE NEoKTmrREssI-Na FORM new 'lltddWitttls} emetic-gr; 1 a. Application" April'27, 1948}=Sr'ial No; 23,502

This invention relates to a form for pressing neckties, and a general object ofthe invention is toprovide an improved form of this; character which can be manufacturedjat relatively low cost and-Which isconvenient; efficient and l durable in use.-

v The useful life of fOuif inghand neckties can besubstantially increased if they are cleaned and pressed, particularly in the area of the knot and immediately adjacent thereto. The present invention provides a-convenientform on which-the necktie can be placed for both the cleaningend pressing operaticnsi Ihave discovered that these operations, and particularly the pressing operation, can be carried out most" efficiently and with the least likelihood of damage to the fabric of the necktie by" eiii ioying athin, resilient iiietal form adapted to be inserted into the tie between the" face of the necktie and the reinforcing lining material; I have found that-in order to avoid damage to the tie during the cleaning operation, the metal should be resistant to corrosion by water and ordinarycleaningfliiids; Also, the efliciency of the pressing operation and the ease with which it can be carriedoutj are substantially increased by constructing the forth of} a' metal wnienhasa relatively low thermal coiidiitit'ity and which is provided with a surface having good reflective characteristics particularly with respect to infra-red radiation. These two factors together insure the concentration of the heat of the pressing iron at the area where it is required and make possible the rapid and effective pressing of the tie without the necessity of employing an excessively hot iron. Furthermore, the infra-red reflectivity reduces the rate of heat transfer intothe pressing form, and the low coefficient of thermal conductivity prevents the rapid travel of heat longitudinally of the form. Thus, the portions, of the form other than those immediately beneath the iron remain relatively cool, and therefore the form can be handled with little chance of burning 'one hands.

In order to obtain the desired results, I prefer to make my pressing form out of a resilient metal having a thermal conductivity of preferably about 0.150 to 0.160 watt/cm/degree C. at 100 C. and of not more than about 0.250 watt/cm./de- 'gree at 100 C. as given in Bureau of Standards 'paper RP 669 entitled Thermal Conductivity of Some Irons and Steels, see Table 2, page 447. The metal must also be capable of taking a commercial finish having good reflective characteristics, especially for infra-red radiation and should be able to retain that finish and reflectiv- 2 its under conditions of use. These requirements are met by cold rolled 18-8. stainless steel having the'usual'gopd finish imparted to it by the mill rolls. Stainless steel, with a commercia-l cold rolled finish, provides sufficient infra-redreflectivity. A high polish is not necessary, for the important" factor is not smoothness of surface but that the surface be clean and free from corrosivefilrns. My best informationis that, stainless" steel of this character has about 50-60% infra-red reflectivity. Stainless steel under the service conditions encountered is non-corrosive and retains the clean surface necessary to maintain thi degree f infra-red reflectivity. Carbon steels, on the other hand,-'aresubj ect to corrosion and tend to pickup oxide; films which impair the reflectivity of the made according to my invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 1 in position upon an ironing board or other supporting surface; Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates the operation of pressing the large end of a four-inhand necktie on a form embodying my invention; and Figure 4 illustrates the operation of pressing the small end of such a necktie.

As shown in Figure 1, a necktie form embodying my invention comprises a member composed preferably of 18-8 stainless steel, high chromium steel or other resilient metal having the reflectivity and heat transfer characteristics noted above and comprising a large tapered portion l0 adapted to substantially conform to and be inserted into the large end of a four-in-hand necktie. The large end [0 terminates in an intermediate shoulder I2 from which the small end portion l4 projects. The small end portion [4 has a different degree of taper than the large end portion I0, the angle of the sides of the small end portion being approximately .14", whereas the angle between the sides of the large portion I0 is approximately 10. These angles are such as to conform substantially to the majority of readyslight, butis sufficient to make it easy to grasp the form and pick it up from an ironing board or other flat surface. The bow makes the central portion stand up above the supporting surface as shown in Figure 2, or if the otherls'ide of the.

form is up, one or both of the end portions are raised suiiiciently above the supporting surface l5 to enable the form to be graspedreadily. When the iron is applied to the necktie during the pressing operation, the bow in the form fiattens out, only a slight amount of pressure being required to accomplish this result. However, the resilience of the metal is such that as soon as the pressure of the iron is-re'leased, the form resumes its bowed shape. a l

An opening isprovided in the form adjacent the juncture of the portions [0 and M. This opening maybe 'used'to hang the form on any convenient hook,fand is provided at this point because this area of the form is seldom used in pressing operations. Thus, the aperture ordi-' narily will not cause a mark in a necktie being pressed on the form.

From the foregoing form of my invention, it will be evident that I have provided a simple'and efiicient tie pressing form which can be used for cleaning and pressing both the large and the small ends of ordinary four-in-hand neckties. The resilient and light metal form can be handled easily, only those portions of the form immediately adjacent the press'- ing iron reaching temperatures high enough to be,

uncomfortable to the touch. The high reflectivity and low heat transfer characteristics of the material insure efficient pressing, and the pre ferred stainless steel is resistant to corr'osionby water, steam and ordinary organic cleaning fluids.

Thus, the possibility of damage to or soiling of the necktie by reason of corrosion of the form is obviated.

description of a preferred 4 I claim: 1. A necktie pressing form comprising a thin, fiat, resilient sheet metal member longitudinally tapered to conform substantially to and adapted to be inserted within a necktie to be pressed, said member being bowed in the direction of its longitudinal axis whereby it can be picked up readily from a fiat surface, having smooth lateral surfaces, being composed of a metal having a thernial: conductivity not, exceeding about 0.250

watt/cm./degree C. at 100*0, whereby to confine the heat of the iron substantially to the pressing area, and having a pressing surface with about reflectivity with regard to infra-red radiation, the bowing being impermanent in the sense that the form flattens out temporarily when the pressure of an iron is applied during the pressing operation.

2. A necktie pressingjorm as in claim 1 comprising a thin, flat, resilient sheet metal member composed of cold rolled 18-8 stainless steel having a thickness of approximately 0.020 inch and having a long tapered portion extending longitudinallyof the form from a point intermediate the ends thereof with its sides converging to define an included angle of approximately 10, a transversely extending shoulder intermediate the ends of the form at the base of said long tapered portion,-and a short tapered portion extendinglongitudinally of the form in the opposite direction from said shoulder with its sides converging to define an included angle of approximately 14.

- HELEN TODD WAT'I'LES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the meet this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 154409 France Nov. 20, 1923 

